Method and apparatus for managing packet memory

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for managing packet memory is provided The apparatus includes an empty list, a storage buffer and apparatus for updating the storage buffer and empty list. The empty list includes a multiplicity of single bit buffers. The storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of the contiguous buffers. The state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer. The updating apparatus stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to network switches generally and to their apparatus for managing packet memory in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A network switch creates a network among a plurality of end nodes, such as workstations, and other network switches connected thereto. Each end node is connected to one port of the network. The ports also serve to connect network switches together.

Each end node sends packets of data to the network switch which the switch then routes either to another of the end nodes connected thereto or to a network switch to which the destination end node is connected. In the latter case, the receiving network switch routes the packet to the destination end node.

Each network switch has to temporarily store the packets of data which it receives from the units (end node or network switch) connected to it while the switch determines how, when and through which port to retransmit the packets. Each packet can be transmitted to only one destination address (a "unicast" packet) or to more than one unit (a "multicast" or "broadcast" packet). For multicast and broadcast packets, the switch typically stores the packet only once and transmits multiple copies of the packet to some (multicast) or all (broadcast) of its ports. Once the packet has been transmitted to all of its destinations, it can be removed from the memory or written over.

It is common that some ports are more active than others. Thus, some ports receive most of the packets while other ports receive few of the packets. Therefore, the busier ports have longer backlogs than the other ports. To effective operate, the network switch must actively manage the memory in which the packets are stores, noting which packets are to be shipped to which ports and which portions of memory are currently available. One common method for managing the memory is to provide a fixed buffer per port.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and method for managing the memory in which the incoming packets are stored.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus including an empty list, a storage buffer and apparatus for updating the storage buffer and empty list. The empty list includes a multiplicity of single bit buffers. The storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of the contiguous buffers. The state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer. The updating apparatus stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.

The method of the present invention associates the empty list with the storage buffer such that the address of each contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer and the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer. The method also stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contiguous buffers are large enough to store at least a packet of data. The contiguous buffers also can store multicast bits which, when set, indicate through which port the data stored in the contiguous buffer has to be transmitted.

Finally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memory management unit includes a bit clearing unit which considers a group of single bit buffers at a time. Per group of buffers, the bit clearing unit determines if any bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T (the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a memory management apparatus, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustration of a bit clearing mechanism forming part of the memory management apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which schematically illustrates the memory management apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus comprises an empty list 10 and its associated multiple buffer 12, an empty list controller 14, a direct memory access (DMA) controller 16 and a switch manager 18. FIG. 1 also shows the ports 20 to and from which the packets of data pass and a bit clearing mechanism 21.

In accordance with the present invention, the buffer 12 comprises a multiplicity of contiguous buffers 22, each of M bits and large enough to store, for example, at least one packet of 1518 bytes. For example, M might be 1.5K or 1536 bytes. Alternatively, each buffer 22 might hold many packets.

Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the empty list 10 is a buffer of single (0 or 1) bits 24, each associated with one of the buffers 22. FIG. 1 shows 12 of each of buffers 22 and single bit buffers 24; typically, there will be 1024 or more of each of buffers 22 and single bit buffers 24.

Buffers 24 store the value of 1 when their associated buffer 22 stores a not-yet retransmitted packet and a 0 when their associated buffer 22 is free to be written into. The buffers 22 and bits 24 are associated as follows: the address of the beginning of a buffer 22 is M times the address (or number) of the single bit buffer 24 associated therewith. In other words, for M=1.5K, the buffer 22 labeled 3 begins at address 4.5K and the buffer 22 labeled 0 begins at address 0. Alternatively, the first buffer 22 can begin at an offset K and thus, the address of the beginning of a buffer i is M times the address of the single bit buffer 24 associated therewith plus the offset K.

The memory management apparatus operates as follows: when a port 20 provides a packet, the DMA controller 16 requests the number of the next available buffer 22 from the empty list controller 14. Empty list controller 14 reviews the empty list 10 for the next available single bit buffer 24 whose bit has a 0 value. Empty list controller 14 then changes the bit value to 1, multiplies the address of next available buffer 24 by M (and adds an offset K if there is one) and provides the resultant address, which is the start location of the corresponding buffer 22, to DMA controller 16.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a very simple mechanism by which to determine and store the address of the next available buffer 22. The mechanism only requires one multiplication operation to determine the address and the address value is stored as a single bit (the value of buffer 24), rather than as a multiple bit address.

DMA controller 16 then enters the data from the incoming packet into the selected buffer 22. Once DMA controller 16 has finished entering the data, it indicates such to the switch manager 18 and also provides switch manager 18 with the destination and source end node addresses so that switch manager 18 can determine through which port to retransmit the packet. Empty list controller 14 provides the switch manager 18 with the number of the buffer 22 in which the packet is stored. Switch manager 18 can be any suitable switch manager, operating in accordance with any suitable principles of switch management. Relevant to the present invention is its control of the empty list and DMA controllers 14 and 16, respectively. To do so, switch manager 18 typically manages a list 30 of the single bit buffers 24 and the output ports through which the packets stored therein are to be retransmitted.

When switch manager 18 determines that a packet is to be retransmitted, manager 18 connects the relevant port 20 to the DMA controller 16 and indicates the port number to the DMA controller 16, multiplies the single bit buffer number associated with that packet (and adds the offset, if there is one) and provides DMA controller 16 with the resultant address of the buffer 22 in which the packet is stored. DMA controller 16 reads the data from the buffer 22 and provides the packet to the connected port 20.

For unicast packets, once the DMA controller 16 has finished transmitting the data of the selected buffer 22, DMA controller 16 indicates such to empty list controller 14 and includes in the indication the beginning address of the selected buffer 22. Empty list controller 14 then determines the buffer number of the selected buffer 22 and changes the bit value of the associated single bit buffer 24 to 0, thereby indicating that the selected buffer 22 is now available.

Buffers 22 are larger by at least N bits than the maximum amount of data to be stored therein. N is the number of ports connected to the switch plus the number of switches connected to the current switch. For example, N might be 46. The extra bits, labeled 32, are utilized, for multicast packets, to indicate the multiple ports through which the packet has to be transmitted.

When the multicast packet enters the switch, DMA controller 16 sets all of the bits 32 (since multicast packets are to be sent to everyone). After the DMA controller 16 has transmitted a packet, whose port number it receives from the switch manager 18, the DMA controller 16 indicates such to the empty list controller 14. If the packet is a multicast packet, the switch manager 18 indicates to the empty list controller 14 to read the N bits 32 to determine if any of them are set. If they are, empty list controller 14 indicates to DMA controller 16 to reset the bit associated with the port 20 through which the packet was sent. When the DMA controller 16 indicates that it has finished resetting the bit, the empty list controller 14 does not change the associated single bit buffer 24.

If the empty list controller 14 reads that only one bit is still set (i.e. the previous transmission was the last time the packet had to be transmitted), when the DMA controller 16 indicates that it has finished resetting the bit, the empty list controller 14 changes the bit value of the associated single bit buffer 24 to 0, thereby indicating that the associated buffer 22 is now available.

In the empty list 10, bits typically change as data is received and transmitted. However, it is possible for data not to be transmitted if there are some errors in the network, such as a port being broken or a switch being removed from the network. In any of these cases, the bits in the empty list 10 associated with those ports must be cleared or else the associated buffers 22 will never be rewritten.

Therefore, the present invention includes bit clearing mechanism 21 which reviews the activity of the bits in the single bit buffers 24 and clears any set bits (i.e. of value 1) which have not changed during a predetermined period T. The period T is typically set to be small enough to avoid wasting storage space for too long but large enough to avoid clearing a buffer before its turn for transmission has occurred.

Bit clearing mechanism 21 comprises a multiplexer 40 and a state reviewer 42. The multiplexer 40 connects, at one time, to a group of single bit buffers 24 and switches between groups of buffers every period T. State reviewer 42 reviews the state of the group of single bit buffers 24 to determine if all of the single bit buffers 24 changed from 1 to 0 at least once during the period T. If, at the end of period T, one or more bits in buffers 24 have remained in the set state (i.e. with value 1), the state reviewer 42 clears them to 0. Multiplexer 40 then connects to the next group of single bit buffers 24.

The operations of the bit clearing mechanism 21 are detailed in FIG. 2. Specifically, at each clock tick t_(i), the state reviewer 42 checks (step 50) each bit. If the bit has changed to 0, the bit is marked (step 52) as "changed". Otherwise, nothing occurs. The process is repeated until the period T has ended (step 54).

At the end of the period T, the state reviewer 42 clears (step 56) any unchanged bits and the multiplexer 40 changes (step 58) the group. The process is repeated for the next time period T.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims which follow: 

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for managing packet memory in a network switch, the apparatus comprising:an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is capable of storing therein a single bit, a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of said contiguous buffers, wherein the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and wherein the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer; updating means for storing data in and removing data from said contiguous buffers and for correspondingly updating the states of said associated single bits buffers, and a bit clearing unit which considers a group of single bit buffers at a time and, per group of single bit buffers, determines if any bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T, wherein the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer.
 2. Apparatus for managing packet memory in a network switch, the apparatus comprising:an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is capable of storing therein a single bit; a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of said contiguous buffers, wherein the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and wherein the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer; updating means for storing data in and removing data from said contiguous buffers and for correspondingly updating the states of said associated single bits buffers wherein said contiguous buffers are large enough to store at least a packet of data; and a bit clearing unit which considers a group of single bit buffers at a time and, per group of single bit buffers, determines if any bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T, wherein the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer.
 3. Apparatus for managing packet memory in a network switch, the apparatus comprising:an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is capable of storing therein a single bit; a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of said contiguous buffers, wherein the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and wherein the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer; updating means for storing data in and removing data from said contiguous buffers and for correspondingly updating the states of said associated single bits buffers wherein said contiguous buffers are large enough to store at least one of the following: a packet of data and multicast bits which, when set, indicate through which port the data stored in the contiguous buffer has to be transmitted; and a bit clearing unit which considers a group of single bit buffers at a time and, per group of single bit buffers, determines if any bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T, wherein the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer.
 4. A method for managing packet memory in a network switch, the method comprising the steps of:associating an empty list having a multiplicity of single bit buffers with a storage buffer having a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, such that the address of each contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer and the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer; storing data in and removing data from said contiguous buffers and correspondingly updating the states of said associated single bits buffers; and considering a group of single bit buffers at a time, and per group of single bit buffers, determining if any of the bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T, wherein the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer.
 5. A method for managing packet memory in a network switch, the method comprising the steps of:associating an empty list having a multiplicity of single bit buffers with a storage buffer having a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, such that the address of each contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer and the state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer; storing data in and removing data from said contiguous buffers and correspondingly updating the states of said associated single bits buffers; setting multicast bits in each of said contiguous buffers when data is stored therein, wherein each of said set multicast bits indicates the port through which the data stored in the contiguous buffer has yet to be transmitted; upon transmission of said data through a port, resetting the associated multicast bit; and considering a group of single bit buffers at a time and, per group of single bit buffers, determining if any of the bits stored in the group of single bit buffers remain set during a predetermined length period T, wherein the set state of a single bit indicates the full state of the associated contiguous buffer. 